digitalis

Everyday

1. A medicine made from the foxglove plant, used by doctors to make a weak heart beat more strongly and steadily. tree →
2. The foxglove plant itself, a tall plant with purple or white bell-shaped flowers. tree →

In the lessons

In science and history lessons foxglove is an example of a plant that gives a medicine: in 1785 a doctor, William Withering, wrote about using foxglove for heart and swelling problems. Safety: foxgloves are poisonous; never eat any part of the plant. Medicine is only safe in the right dose given by a doctor.

Examples

• Digitalis comes from the foxglove plant. tree →
• Doctors used digitalis to help patients with weak hearts. tree →
• Foxgloves are also called digitalis in gardening books. tree →
• Every part of the digitalis plant is poisonous. tree →
• The scientist measured the right dose of digitalis carefully. tree →

Note

Uncountable. From Latin «digitus», finger, because a finger fits into the flower. A good example that «natural» does not mean «safe».